Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

Two days after council members unanimously voted to repeal the occupation tax, Huntington mayor Steve Williams signed the ordinance at a special ceremony at city hall. "We've done it. It's official. The occupation tax is dead," Williams said as he finished signing it.

Williams said, "Everybody seemed to be against it other than members of city council and the previous administration. "

Businesses, Cabell County commissioners, and other parties sued the city in hopes of banning the tax, and most recently, state lawmakers have questioned the legality of the tax.

Williams said, "The one thing that would keep coming up was the occupation tax. Frankly, my feel was that if we kept it on the books, then that would be an excuse to take the home rule bill now. It's gone now."

Council members voted Monday to repeal the occupation tax.

Council member Mark Bates said, "This is good to get it behind us and make a statement to the legislature that Huntington's not going to pursue the occupation tax and that home rule is very important to us."

City leaders are hoping that keeps important home rule legislation moving through the legislature.

Williams said, "I believe that Huntington is in the cutting edge and we are being innovative and others are following our lead."

He said he hopes the repeal of the tax inspires the parties involved in the lawsuit to reconsider the legal issue.

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